Breaking News

Fatal Auckland bus crash cause unclear

Police are continuing to investigate how an Auckland driver lost control of the bus was driving and careered into a tree, resulting in the death of an elderly passenger.

The Howick & Eastern bus, with nine passengers, was travelling along Hill Road in Manurewa on Thursday afternoon when it hit a taxi while going around a right-hand bend. It then drove straight into a large tree, causing extensive damage.

The male passenger, in his 80s, died on the way to hospital while a nine-year-old boy, with head and arm injuries, and a 12-year-old girl with leg and head injuries were also taken to hospital.

The bus driver also suffered extensive injuries. The taxi driver and their passenger were uninjured.

A Counties-Manukau police spokeswoman said officers were still investigating the crash and it was too early to say how it happened.

It is possible the driver may have suffered a medical event, investigating officers at the scene told media shortly after the crash.

Howick & Eastern Buses general manager Sheryll Otway says they cannot comment on the cause of the crash while police investigate.